The magic of mighty Madrid

Madrid's prestigious Las Ventas bullring. [Liu Lu/China Daily]

There is a tourist information booth in the square where you can get free tourist maps and travel tips.

If you like art, do not miss museums in Madrid such as Museo del Prado and Reina Sofia, must-sees for art lovers.

With the Louvre in Paris and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Prado is one of the three most important Renaissance museums in the world. It houses more than 8,600 paintings and 1,000 sculptures and other works of art and historical documents, but because of a lack of space less than half of its collections are on public display. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 19th century.

The Prado has accumulated thousands of pieces of fine art. Apart from the works of Spanish artists, it also houses the largest collection of Italian masters outside Italy. You can easily spend a whole day here if you want to appreciate most of what is housed within its walls. To save waiting in line to be admitted, buy your ticket online in advance and arrive early.

If your time is limited, spend at least two hours to get a glimpse of the most impressive masterpieces of Velasquez, El Greco, Goya and Picasso.

Bullfighting is the most traditional of Spanish events. Today it remains very popular in many parts of the country, with all major Spanish cities having impressive bullrings.

If you want to experience an authentic Spanish weekend, how could you miss a bullfight in Las Ventas, a bullring located in east Madrid that is regarded as the home of bullfighting in Spain

Las Ventas was built in 1929 and was first used in 1931. It was built in brick on a metal frame with decorative ceramic tiles. It is the most important bullring in the world and seats 25,000 spectators. The bullfighting season starts in March and ends in October, and fights start at 6 pm or 7 pm and last for two to three hours.

This bullring is a place that is emblematic of the soul of bullfighting, where the world's finest matadors present their artistry and skill.

If you are interested in getting tickets for one of the bullfights in Madrid, they can be bought in advance online. The price of seats depends on how close they are to the arena and whether they are in the sun or the shade. Apart from bullfighting, Las Ventas also hosts other activities such as concerts.

The nightlife in Madrid is vibrant. Just as many other European cities are turning off their lights, people in Madrid swarm into bars of the liveliest neighborhoods, such as Malasana, Chueca. It seems that the partying goes on until dawn.

On top of all of this, in Madrid you will find a huge variety of regional and international cuisines. There are many tapas bars, clubs and flamenco theaters catering to all tastes and ages.